Snapchat Adds Paid Replays And Funky Filters For Selfies

Snapchat is a runaway success in terms of having a massive userbase and brand recognition, but when it come to making money off the app, the developers are still trying to figure out how best do that. One way they've come up with is by selling the ability to replay snaps.

With the update that's rolling out today, Snapchat users can purchase a pack of three replays for $0.99. These are in addition to the daily replay that users have been enjoying for free. The only caveat is that you still can only replay a chat once, so you can't stockpile replays and keep viewing a snap.

Snaps sent out to other users are viewable for anywhere from one to 10 seconds, configurable in one-second increments by the person who took the photo or video. Without using a workaround, like a third-party program, these Snaps disappear after being viewed once.

"We introduced replay in Additional Services almost two years ago, and we’ve used it to relive those amazing moments (or the ones we weren’t paying attention to...) just one more time before they disappear," Snapchat stated in a blog post. "We’ve provided one replay per Snapchatter per day, sometimes frustrating the millions of Snapchatters who receive many daily Snaps deserving of a replay. But then we realized — a replay is like a compliment! So why stop at just one?"

The update also introduces Lenses, which are essentially face filters you can use when taking a selfie. These are free, and while there aren't that many, they're pretty fun to play with (see above for a couple of examples).